On Tuesday morning, Samantha Valentine, a 31-year-old woman from Upstate New York, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the attempted murder of her infant son. She admitted to her guilt in an allocution to the judge in Albany County in relation to a series of assaults against the 10-month-old child in October 2021.
Valentine had been charged with three counts of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the second degree, and endangering the welfare of a child.
The Watervliet Police Chief, Joseph Centanni, told reporters that Valentine was caught on video attacking the helpless baby over a four-day period and had also been arrested in the past for selling sick kittens that ultimately died shortly after they were delivered. Court documents noted that the video footage showed Valentine throwing the boy face-down onto the floor, resulting in head and face injuries that caused internal bleeding.
When officers arrived at the scene they found the child lying in medical distress and the residence in unsanitary and filthy conditions. The officer performed first aid until paramedics arrived and the baby was taken to a nearby hospital. Due to the severity, nature, and length of the abuse, the WPD referred to the child as a “miracle.”
The judge also issued an order of protection for the child, prohibiting his mother from making any contact with him until 2040. Valentine was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Her defense attorney attributed some of Valentine’s actions to struggles with diabetes and mental health issues. To address these issues, Valentine and her attorney decided that taking anger management and parenting classes would be beneficial for her.
Valentine was initially held without bail, but was eventually granted bail and was slated to be sentenced on Friday, missing at least one previous court date in the process. A bench warrant was then issued for her arrest and she made it into court.